Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Militia and the Rule of Law

Via Way Up North

 

So just what is the Militia? Well that is an interesting question that varies not only throughout history and geographical areas as a whole but even particularly within the United States depending on time period and other outside influences.

What some would call a militia at times was the only "military" some countries really had. To offset the cost of a standing military most nations attempted to rely on a militia configuration of one type or another to fill the gap requiring citizens to arm themselves according to their station, property owned and local responsibilities. In many ways it was a hold over from feudal obligations as well.

I don't think anyone can argue that in colonial America as well as the early Constitutional United States that the militia was comprised of all Men between a certain age range who were free. The age range varied and so did the perception of who was actually free but those are minor issues that have no bearing on my point. Since the actual make up, or more importantly the Constitutional removal of a militia has never been enacted then the actual make up of the militia is for the present entirely made up of those who wish to volunteer and are willing to become the militia themselves.

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